By Olivia Rinaldi
Updated on: March 26, 2026 / 3:43 AM EDT / CBS News
The White House rejected billionaire Elon Musk’s offer to pay Transportation Security Administration employees during a partial Department of Homeland Security funding lapse that has disrupted air travel nationwide, several sources told CBS News.
Administration officials considered the proposal but expressed concerns about legal obstacles because of Musk’s existing federal contracts, one source said. Officials also noted they expect the partial shutdown to end soon.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt blamed Democrats for the stalemate. “It’s the Democrats who have led to this stalemate over the past six weeks,” Leavitt said Wednesday. “The president and the Republicans’ position has been very clear — fund the Department of Homeland Security.”
Musk posted on X Saturday: “I would like to offer to pay the salaries of TSA personnel during this funding impasse that is negatively affecting the lives of so many Americans at airports throughout the country.” President Trump told reporters Monday, “I’d love it. I think it’s great. Let him do that.”
Two sources estimated the cost at about $250 million. Homeland Security spokespeople and Musk did not immediately comment.
Officials debated whether Musk could route funds to the government’s general fund so the agency could pay workers, since an outside individual is legally barred from paying federal employees directly under federal ethics guidance (18 U.S.C. § 209). Citizens can, however, donate through the Treasury’s “Gifts to the U.S. Government” account, which can be used for budget needs.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said, “We greatly appreciate Elon’s generous offer,” adding, “This would pose great legal challenges due to his involvement with federal government contracts. The fastest way to ensure TSA employees — and all DHS employees — get paid is for Democrats to fund the Department of Homeland Security.”
TSA employees are set to miss a second full paycheck since the partial shutdown began; only a half pay period was received earlier. The acting head of the TSA said agency employees will have lost about $1 billion in income across this 40-day shutdown and a 43-day shutdown last fall.
Kristin Brown and Kathryn Krupnik contributed to this report.
In: Elon Musk; Transportation Security Administration